Shoe-tie fastener



(No ModeL) B. F. SEYMOUR.

SHOE TIE FASTENER- No. 438,245. Patented Oct. 14, 1890.

l/Vl/E/VTOI? ATTORNEY.

W/T/VESSES:

as cm, mum-um UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN F. SEYMOUR, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

SHOE-TIE FASTEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 438,245, dated October 14-, 1890.

7 Application filed May 21,1890- Serial No. 352,669- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

'Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. SEYMOUR, a citizenof the United States, residing at Denver, in the county of Arapahoe and State of 0010- rado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Tie Fasteners; and I do declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to a novel and improved form and construction of shoe-fastener, and more particularly to the class designed to secure the knots of lace or tied shoes.

For the obviation of the annoyance and inconvenience commonly experienced by those wearing laced shoes, varied and ingenious devices have been proposed, all of which involve more or less complexity and insecurity and are at the same time awkward and impracticable.

The object of my improvement, therefore, is to produce a shoe-tie fastener of the class stated, which shall be so constructed as to hold the knot firmly and securely in place and prevent the strings from slipping, the arrangement of which shall be such that the greater the strain upon the strings the more securely they are held in position in the shoe, a device to be a beautiful and ornamental attachment for the shoe, and which shall be of simple and economical construction, safe, practicable, and reliable in use and efficient for the purpose intended.

In practicing my invention I use two parts suitably hinged together, one of said parts being a modified form of an eyelet and secured to the shoe in the same manner as the ordinary eyelet, while the other part,which is hinged to the first-named part and adapted to fold down over or lie upon said part, is provided with a suitable lug or projection, so arranged and constructed that when said parts are folded together the lug or projection of the one part shall fit within the eye of the other part, so that if a string be passed through the eyelet and said parts folded together the lug or projection will wedge the string against the sides of the eye of the eyelet and hold it securely in place, thus removing all strain from the knot which may be made in the string.

The invention will be better understood by reference to the drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shoeprovided with my improvement, the fastener being shown in use or when holding the strings in position; Fig. 2, an elevated longitudinal section of the device open; Fig. 3, afront elevation of the device open, the material of the shoe to which it is secured being shown in section; Fig. 4, a view partially in elevation and partially in section showing the device closed, a piece of string being shown secured therein, thus illustrating the use of the iInproved device.

Referring now to the views, the referencenumeral 1 designates a shoe to which my improved device is secured, the device being secured thereon in place of the two uppermost eyelets of the shoe.

The device proper consists of an ordinary shoe-eyelet 2, continuous with one side of the upper or outer flange 3 of which is a plate or projection 4E. Hinged to this plate or projec tion at 5 is a piece 6, adapted to fold over or fit upon eyelet 2.

Rigidly secured to or formed integral with piece 6 and projecting from the lowersurface thereof, or from the surface which contacts with eyelet 2 when the device is closed, is a lug or projection 7 adapted to fit in the eye of eyelet 2 when in the closed position.

Vhen it is desired to use myimproved fastener on a pair of shoes, they are put on the shoe in place of the two uppermost eyelets and are secured thereon after the manner of securing ordinary eyelets theretonamely, by first making a suitable aperture in the leather and then by putting the eyelet portion of the device in position in said aperture and spreading the same.

From the description given it will be readily seen that in the use of my improved fastener the part 6 is folded back in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3, when the string is passed through the eye of the eyelet and drawn up to the required degree of tension, when said part 6 is folded down and lug 7 made to project into said eye, when it will Wedge and hold the string in the desired position. Then a knot tied in the Strings will not be subjected to the intermittent strains and releases from strains that it is in the ordinary case, and thus Will not be so likely to become loosened.

It will be observed that my improved device may be attached to shoes already provided with eyelets in the place where said device is to be attached by simply making the eyelet portion of the device small enough to enter the eyelets in the shoe where they may be spread and thus secured to shoes already made.

It must be understood that I do not limit myself to the use of this inventi0na shoe-tie fastener-as I am aware that it may be so modified as to perform the same function on a larger scale in fastening straps, ropes, or similar articles securely Within apertures, thereby avoiding the necessity of tying knotsas, for instance, in fastening horses by placing the halter-strap through an aperture in the manger.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is A fastening for strings or shoe-laces, composed of an eyelet applied to the upper of a shoe or analogous article, and a locking-plate hinged to said eyelet and provided on its under side at right angles to the face thereof with a rounded hollow teat or projection adapted to enter and fill the opening in the said eyelet, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

BENJAMIN F. SEYMOUR. 

